Episodes

Have you ever been curious about working for a Japanese company but felt discouraged by stories of long hours, low pay, rigid hierarchies, and mandatory social drinking? If so, this episode is for you. Our guest, Alvin Tan, dives into his controversial Medium article, "Why More Foreigners in Japan Should Work for Japanese Companies: Six Reasons to Consider It." The article sparked a firestorm online, generating nearly 100 negative comments on social media, with many Japan experts calling working...

Welcome to today’s episode! Our guest is the multi-talented Sean Nichols, whose career is as diverse as it is inspiring. Sean has captivated audiences as an entertainer on Japanese TV, performed as a Manzai stand-up comedian, and even served as the global representative for Japan's biggest YouTuber. He’s toured with Aerosmith and, most famously, broke barriers as the first—and only—foreigner to star in the Ultraman series during its 40-year history, playing "Sean White" in 50 episodes. In this ...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the often-mystifying Japanese business practices that foreigners in Japan struggle to navigate. Intercultural facilitator Masafumi Otsuka sheds light on puzzling practices like "Why Japanese managers change jobs every three years" and "Why they always see the glass as half empty." Masa offers a logical breakdown of the periodic job rotation system and Japan’s risk-averse decision-making process. We also explore key cultural concepts that are often misun...

In this episode, I’m joined by Yuko Tamura, an award-winning writer on the Medium platform and editor of Japonica—the go-to publication for everything Japan. Yuko’s writing is a blend of "Fun Facts about Japan" and what she calls "a little rebellious essays" from Tokyo. We discuss some of her standout articles, including "The 3 Facts You Should Know Before Marketing to Japan." Yuko has a passion for cross-cultural topics and offers valuable advice for both Japanese and English speakers on how t...

Now and Zen Japan is excited to welcome Mr. Ed Thompson, a Marketing Consultant and the founder of Concept Design. In this episode, we enjoy some beers while diving into Ed's over 20-year journey in Japan and his extensive career in marketing, branding, advertising, and academia. Ed has also been a lecturer at Temple University for more than 15 years. Known for his straightforward communication and strong opinions on marketing, Ed shares stories from his early days in Japan, including his experi...

This conversation is one of the most amazing I've had since starting Now and Zen Japan. This episode could certainly change your life. Especially if you suffer from unhealthy lifestyle habits. Prepare to be blown away by Kaki Okumura's wisdom, demeanor, and insight into well-being and nutrition. Kaki breaks down Japanese based wellness concepts through her "Four Essential Pillars to Healthy Living" in a very convincing and non-preachy way. She is a writer, an illustrator, a wellness coach, and v...

Part 2 of my interview with author Robert Whiting about his recent best selling memoir "Tokyo Junkie" 60 years of bright lights, back alleys, and baseball. In this episode, Bob tells great stories about colorful foreign players and well-known Japanese baseball stars. Part 2, we talk mostly about the baseball stories from his memoir, but also get into the important story of how writing his first book "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat" completely changed his life. Together with episode #1 this is ano...

I've been a devoted fan of Robert Whiting since I first read "Chrysanthemum and the Bat" in high school during the 1980s. After many critically acclaimed books, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bob to discuss his latest memoir, "Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys... and Baseball." In our conversation, Bob shares his firsthand insights into six decades of captivating, dangerous, bizarre, and heartfelt experiences, spanning from the first Olympics in 1964 to the current ...

Meshida, a former Japanese salaryman turned English language standup comedian, has spent the last ten years crafting his unique brand of comedy, delighting audiences in both Japan and the UK. Alongside his successful career as a standup, he's made a name for himself on YouTube, particularly for his humorous take on Japan's "pink" culture, while also exploring many other "wholesome" cultural topics. In our conversation, we delve into his journey to becoming a full-time comedian, the nuances betwe...

Have you ever fantasized about the ultimate luxury vacation in Japan? If so, Alex Debs is your go-to guy. As the founder of Hitotoki, the Luxury Travel Designer, Alex specializes in crafting luxurious travel experiences in Japan. In this episode, you'll get an inside look into the world of luxury travel planning, including the most challenging requests his team has faced. We'll discuss how he navigated the pandemic restrictions, the unique challenges of being a small, specialized agency, and his...

It's a truly inspiring chat with the incredibly positive and humble entrepreneur, Anthony Griffin. He's the brains behind Saga Consulting, a company dedicated to helping organizations and individuals share their stories with the world. They specialize in global communications, offering top-notch copywriting, digital marketing, and cross-cultural coaching. Anthony also pens insightful articles for Kokoro Media on LinkedIn, where he shares his passion for Japanese language learning and provides ti...

Discover the art of mastering public speaking, enhancing your presentation skills, and unraveling the secrets to impactful storytelling. Join Dr. Greg Story, the esteemed president of Dale Carnegie Japan and bestselling author of "Japan Sales Mastery" and "Japan Business Mastery," as he shares invaluable insights into successful sales techniques, post-COVID sales process shifts, and a myriad of topics explored in his books. In this engaging conversation, we delve into the question of whether Gr...

Meet a true Hospitality Professional. Mr. Matthias Sutter, the Rep. Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan and the GM of the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo. We discuss Japanese customer service, how different nationalities have different hospitality expectations, his two requirements for anyone to succeed in the hotel business, and how starting off in Food & Beverage helped craft his strong sense of hospitality. We also talk Trip Advisor, hotel rankings, and the guest comments he likes the most. If you are...

The phrase "Do what you love and you never have to work another day in your life" fits Mac Salman perfectly. Mac left the finance industry and pursued his passions - Travel, Japan, and tasty spirits. We discuss his customized tour business Maction Planet where he has never conducted the same itinerary twice. Then his pivot to Kanpai Planet when the pandemic halted Japan tourism. We discuss these two businesses and life in Tokyo while we sample three "Japan Related" tequilas. Mac is an inimitable...

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She started her own consulting business, Somi Insights, three years ago where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. The Japanese consumer is a key area of Deanna's expertise where she led two major agencies before starting Somi Insights. We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and ...

Parissa Haghirian is an internationally renowned expert on Japanese Management and Leadership and a Professor of International Management at Sofia University. She is the author of 12 books on Japanese Management, Cross-Cultural topics, and Consumer Dynamics. We examine these as well as some cultural concepts from her latest book. We also discuss how Japanese management practice is uniquely different, successful Japanese corporate survival strategies and what foreign firms can learn, why cross-cu...

Jeff Crawford is the president of Zo Digital, a bi-lingual digital marketing agency he founded over seven years ago. He describes many of the mistakes foreign companies make when setting up their web presence in Japan and explains how to remedy these issues. What hidden gems can be discovered in your site analytics to improve eCom sales. Why Japanese sites are often so busy and loud. Simple and practical advise on how to increase traffic and improve conversion rates through "Authoritativeness" a...

Introducing the remarkable and iconic veteran of Tokyo, Timothy Langley. With an impressive track record of over 40 years in Japan, Timothy is the visionary founder of Japan's premier government and public consultancy firm, Langley Esquire. What sets Timothy apart is his groundbreaking achievement as the first foreigner to work in the Japan National Diet, collaborating closely with senior Japanese politicians. His expertise extends far and wide, having served as the top Legal and Government Affa...

Dive into the world of traditional Japanese sword making with craftsman Taro Asano. He is one of only a handful of practicing "Kajiya" (a person who forges Japanese swords / Katana) still in Japan. He also offers a workshop in English where people come to make their own custom-forged "Samurai knife". It's a unique once in a lifetime experience. We discuss all things Katana, how he became a Kajiya, his future plans - which include taking on a 20-year old American apprentice and creating a You-Tub...

Award-winning broadcaster and radio host Guy Perryman. Guy's soothing and melodic voice has been heard throughout Japan for the past 30 years starting with the launch of Virgin Megastores in 1990 and then Tokyo's InterFM since 1997. In addition, he's a voice actor, event producer, and writer. He has DJ'd for British Royalty and interviewed 100's of world famous artists and businessmen from Paul McCartney and Sting to Richard Branson and designer Paul Smith. We discuss some of these interactions ...

This episode we discuss fashion in Japan and premium dog food. Not two topics often mentioned in the same sentence, but very related to today's guest Mr. Loic Bizel. Loic started his own fashion consulting business in Tokyo nearly 30 years ago and runs two very successful fashion related websites (see links in the notes below). He was one of the co-founders of the fashion "flash sales" site Gladd.jp in 2009. He's referred to as a "Trendspotter" and "Cool Hunter" by the media and is considered on...

This episode I speak with Brendhan Kelly, the Hospitality Communication Manager for the Tysons Group of restaurants. Tysons is most well known for Ivy Place, Cicada, Smokehouse, and the iconic TY Harbor Brewery in Tennozu Isle. If you have dinned at any of these restaurants you were most likely impressed with the unique level of personalized hospitality. This is a direct result of Brendhan's input and influence. We discuss Tysons brand of "Global Hospitality" and how he trains and imparts this w...

This episode I sit down with Katsura Sunshine, the only Western Rakugo Master Storyteller in the world and only the 2nd in the history of traditional Japanese Rakugo. He shares his fascinating journey from Canadian playwright and musical producer to Master Japanese Rakugo Storyteller. We dive into the details of his three-year apprenticeship, the hardships and rewards. How he became an international Rakugo ambassador not only on Off-Broadway but around the world. Toward the end of the podcast we...

I’ve been doing the Now and Zen podcast for exactly 3 years. That’s 80 episodes with many great guests, wonderful stories, fascinating insights, and I’m often asked, who was my favorite guest. That’s a lot like asking a parent, who their favorite child is, it’s obviously a tough choice and one best not publicly announced. However I can say one of my favorite episodes was number #48 from October 2021 with Kaki Okumura. So it’s with much pleasure that I introduce today’s guest, once again Ms. Kaki...